Printer fluid change manifold

Abstract

A system is disclosed. The system includes a print engine having one or more ink jet print heads and ink lines coupled to provide ink to each of the print heads. The system also includes a fluid change manifold coupled to the ink lines to remove fluid from the print engine via the ink lines.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a print engine including:
 one or more ink jet print heads; and 
 ink lines coupled to provide ink to each of the print heads; and 
 
 a fluid change manifold coupled to the ink lines to remove fluid from the print engine via the ink lines, including:
 a first set of receptacles coupled to a first set of ink lines to remove a first fluid type; and 
 a second set of receptacles coupled to a second set of ink lines to remove a second fluid type. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid type is a first combination of fluids and the second fluid type is a second combination of fluids. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid type and the second fluid type are the same. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid type comprises a first viscosity and the second fluid type comprises a second viscosity. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid change manifold further comprises a bracket coupled to a block. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the ink change manifold further comprises a rack coupled to the block to remove fluid from the fluid change manifold. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the rack further comprises:
 a first valve to receive the first fluid type from the first set of receptacles; and 
 a second valve to receive the second same or other fluid type from the second set of receptacles. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  wherein the first fluid type is removed from the first set of ink lines while the first valve is open and prevented from being removed while the first valve is closed. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7  wherein the second fluid type is removed from the second set of ink lines while the second valve is open and prevented from being removed while the second valves are closed. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7  wherein the rack further comprises:
 fluid removal ports to remove the fluid from fluid change manifold; and 
 one or more hoses coupled to the fluid removal ports. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  further comprising a maintenance station coupled to the one or more hoses. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the maintenance station provides a vacuum to the fluid change manifold to facilitate fluid removal. 
     
     
       13. A fluid change manifold comprising:
 a block including: 
 a first set of receptacles coupled to a first set of ink lines to remove a first fluid type or combination of fluids from a print engine; and 
 a second set of receptacles coupled to a second set of ink lines to remove the same or other fluid types or combination of fluids from a print engine. 
 
     
     
       14. The fluid change manifold of  claim 13  further comprising a bracket coupled to the block. 
     
     
       15. The ink change manifold of  claim 13  further comprising a rack coupled to the block to remove fluid from the fluid change manifold. 
     
     
       16. The fluid change manifold of  claim 15  wherein the rack further comprises:
 a first valve to receive the first fluid type from the first set of receptacles; and 
 a second valve to receive the second fluid type from the second set of receptacles. 
 
     
     
       17. The fluid change manifold of  claim 16  wherein the first fluid type is removed from the first set of ink lines while the first valve is open and prevented from being removed while the first valve is closed. 
     
     
       18. The fluid change manifold of  claim 16  wherein the second fluid type is removed from the second set of ink lines while the second valve is open and prevented from being removed while the second valve is closed. 
     
     
       19. The fluid change manifold of  claim 16  wherein the rack further comprises:
 fluid removal ports to remove the fluid from the fluid change manifold; and 
 one or more hoses coupled to the fluid removal ports.